Bye-bye AA, United to offer Mercedes-Benz transfer at LAX, future growth at Southwest

Mary Adkins used to be a loyal American Airlines passenger. She even got an American Airlines credit card. She will now cancel her credit card and stop flying the airline. Why? Read on.

Ours began as an all-too-common story of betrayal: I logged into my computer and saw something I shouldn’t have seen. You had charged me for a flight that I hadn’t booked. While I had booked a flight that week, I had used my miles to do so and had the updated, near-zero mileage balance to prove it. Unfazed, as I assumed the mistake would be resolved quickly, I called you. You assured me that the large sum I had not authorized you to remove from my checking account would be refunded to me within 7-10 business days. I hung up and ate a mango.

But then, 15 business days passed with no refund, so I called again to learn it “could take up to two months” for the money to appear in my account.

Airline staff meet and drive eligible passengers across the tarmac to their connecting flights in Mercedes-Benz GL30 BlueTec SUVs, powered by clean diesel technology. Passengers with tight connections are given priority.

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly lays groundwork for future growth

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly says that the airline has the opportunity to add up to 50 destinations over the next few years.

“We have a very exciting opportunity over the next few years,” Kelly told an audience of more than 100 people at the company’s annual shareholder meeting today in Dallas. “With the repeal of the Wright Amendment, we have a chance to grow beyond what we’ve already announced.”